Where Reddit differs among its tech peers is in its striking dependence on its user base to keep things operational. Reddit must keep its users satisfied and its efforts to expand its limited (and already unpopular) advertising formats could send users packing. 98% of Reddit’s revenue is made up of advertising income. And of that, 26% came from just 10 ad clients in 2023. Investors will be watching this closely and expect more diversity sooner rather than later
I stayed awhile longer, but prepped for the worse that came yesterday.
Honestly, I think it did impact the content objectively for the worse. Now that I’m fully moved into Lemmy I’m recognizing that a bunch of subreddits basically declined into irrelevance after the blackout (and I’m only remembering them as I try to recreate my subscription list here).
And it kinda affected the vibe of the front page. As of now, I’d describe current reddit as very meta-naval gazing. So many of the posts are basically rival subreddits going “nuh-uh” and “yuh-huh” to each other. There may also be a new algo in use that’s basically encouraging fights between subreddits?
Edit: I should clarify, I think there’s objectively less actual content with now the literal same content being posted multiple times but with different takes on it.
I was mostly in the niche subreddits anyway, and it’s frustrating that Reddit is essentially still the only searchable website for non-sponsored content in hundreds (if not thousands) of niches. Quality in my niches is still the same ebb and flow that it was.
There still are questions of validity, though. Message boards like Reddit haven’t really had their payola/Gamergate/astroturfed-FCC-comments moment yet.